Cheryl Wachenheim, professor of agribusiness and applied economics, has been awarded a Distinguished Chair Fulbright Scholar grant, the United States Department of State and J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced recently.
She will teach courses in agribusiness at Renmin University in Beijing, China, during the 2015-16 academic year. Renmin is a leading Chinese university in humanities and social sciences and has gained national recognition for excellence in theoretical economics, applied economics, legal studies, sociology, and journalism and communication.
Wachenheim is one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2015-16. Only about 40 scholars receive the Distinguished Chair Award, which are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. The program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide.
Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program has given more than 318,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, scientists and other professionals the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
Wachenheim has been teaching for more than 20 years. She earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota and a master's degree, MBA and doctorate from Michigan State University. Wachenheim is a 17-year member of the Minnesota Army National Guard and has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. She resides in Moorhead, Minnesota with her two children who will accompany her for the length of the award period.
More information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is available here.
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